Fruit-can-soldering tool



(ModeL) J. .P. WEITZEL FRUIT CAN SOLDERING TOOL.

No. 257,794. Patented May 9, 1882.

(vi/mm j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E,

JACOB F. W'EITZEL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.v

FRUIT-CAN-SOLDERING TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,794, dated May 9, 1882,

Application filed April 14, 1882. (Modeb) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB F. 'WEITZEL, of Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Tool for Holding Cans to be soldered, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device for expanding the unsoldered body of a fruit or other can against the upset rims or flanges f the top and bottom plates, and for retaining and holding the samefirmly in position during the act of soldering.

My said tool comprises a handled stem or red united by parallel-rule links to a congeries of curved plates, which, by the simple act of inserting the head of the instrument into the can and then pressing its handle downward, operate to expand the can-body tightly against the marginal rims in proper position for soldering, the handle of the instrument aftbrdinga convenient means of grasping the work and of turuing it around with one hand while the soldering-bit is applied with the other hand. The said links consist of thin strips of spring metal somewhat bent to secure the necessary elasticity, and the form and arrangementof the parts are such that the tool becomes automatically locked to the expanded condition by the mere act of thrusting it into the unsoldered can.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my tool in its collapsed condition and about to be inserted in the unsoldered can. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation and a transverse section of the same. Fig.4 is an elevation, and Fig.5atransverse section, of the tool expanded within the can. Fig. 6 represents a can clamped upon the expanded holder and in the net of being soldered.

A, B, and C may represent respectively the unsoldered bottom, body, and top of an ordinary fruit-can.

My combined clamp and holder is of the fol- .lowingconstruction: Awooden handle, D, having a metallic ferrule, E, is cross-kerfed, d, to receive a shank, F, of the represented X-formed transverse section. The shank F is preferably composed of the represented four L-formed strips of sheet-iron, so as to present four equidistant wings, ff f f. To each wing is hinged, as at G, two parallelrule links or of such links. Each link is bent flatwise, as shown, to secure the necessary elasticity, and is partly rounded and partly square at each extremity, as shown, so as to limit the folding of the links-to the downward direction, (see Fig. 2,) and in the upward direction only so far beyond the horizontal as to secure a lock. (See Fig. 4..) The outer extremities of each pair of liuks are hinged to the concave face of a plate, J, in the form of a cylindrical are of diameter corresponding to that of the interior of the finished can-bod y. There are conseposed around the circuit ofthe can-body. The parts are so proportioned that the foot of..the shankF,wh'en left at] iberty, neverqujte touches the can-bottom, and so that when at its lowest point tbehinge attachment to the shank passes quently four of such plates equidistantly distoggles, H, making eight in all, or four pairs a little beyond the straightline intersecting the attachment to the plates, so as to lock the parts to such expanded conditio'h with suflicient stability to insure against accidental displacement. (See Fig.4 The unsoldered can having been thus clamped and its body pressed snugly against the end-plate flanges, the operator, grasping the handle D in one hand and the solderingbit in the other hand, as indicated in Fig. 6, proceeds to solder the joints, which having been effected, a brisk upward movementof the tool liberates it for use upon the next can. i

For use with cansof larger size the number of expanders J and of their described coacting' members may be increased in proportion.

The stem F is preferably constructed as described; but it may be of other formssucb, for example, as a single red of X-f'ormed transverse section,orot' two rods of T'formed transverse section or the rod may be of sqnareor of cylindrical section and be slotted to receive the inner ends of the links.

I am aware that an entering rod connected by toggle-links to expanding plates has been employed for clamping unsoldered cans for soldering, and I therefore disclaim invention in such expedients, broadly.

I claim as new and of my invention-- 1. In a tool for holding cans to be soldered,

the handled shank or stem D F, so connected to a congeries of equidistant expanders or areplates J by as many pairs of curved elastic parallel rule links H as to become self-locking in the act of insertion, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a congeries of are plates, H, arranged equidistantly around the (-ircle,and with as many pairs of curved elastic hingedlinks H, the X-formed stem F, ha ing the handle 1), substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the expander-s J and the curved elastic hinged links H, the stem F, composed of four L-formed strips, and occupying a cruciform kerf, d, in handle D, in the manner described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto 15 set my hand. I

JACOB F. WEITZEL.

Attest:

GEO. H. KNIGHT,

SAAIL. S. CARPENTER. 

